IT Matters | Tech Solutions and Strategies for Every Industry

This episode of the IT Matters Podcast features a conversation between host Aaron Bock and guest Derek Jones, a longtime technology executive with experience leading IT teams for organizations of more than 350 people. Derek shares lessons from his career, shaped by his “offensive lineman mindset,” a philosophy rooted in team-first leadership. The discussion explores how IT leaders can stay relevan...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, our host is joined by Michael Irwin, CISO for Odyssey Logistics, to discuss the challenges and misconceptions in the cybersecurity industry. Together, the emphasize the importance of understanding one's environment, prioritizing proactive measures over reactive chaos, and addressing legacy infrastructure. Conversation Highlights: 0:00 Michael Irwin, CISO...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, our host is joined by Nathanael Dick, Vice President of Cybersecurity at SteelFab, for a deep dive into the evolving world of cybersecurity compliance. Together, they explore why frameworks like the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) are becoming essential for modern organizations and how compliance can strengthen overall security. Nathanae...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, our host is joined by Troy Penny, Global Vice President of Information Technology at Harsco Rail. As a children’s book author, Troy has learned a lot about the power of storytelling in technology. Together, him and our host discuss the influence of leadership and culture in IT, aligning business with technology, and the importance of stories in a quickly-...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, our hosts are joined by Shane Creech, Vice President of IT at Ob Hospital Group. Together, they unpack what it means to lead IT when the stakes are high, and the lights absolutely must stay on. Listen to hear Shane share -     How his path from aspiring medical lab technician to healthcare IT executive shaped the way he thinks about systems, people, and r...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, our hosts are joined by Stephen Self, Director of IT Infrastructure and Security at Jim n’ Nick’s Community Barbecue. Together, they discuss the IT challenges restaurant chains face, the growing role of AI in IT, lessons he’s learned in his IT career, and more. Conversation Highlights: 0:00 Introducing Stephen Self, Director of IT Infrastructure and Secur...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, our host is joined by Jeff Garrett, VP of Solutions Architecture at Opkalla. Together, they discuss 2025’s biggest technology trends, the evolving role of IT in business strategy, and predictions for the technology landscape in 2026. Conversation Highlights: 00:00 Introducing Jeff Garrett, VP of Solutions Architecture at Opkalla [03:19] Key trends in IT f...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, our host is joined by Dana Staples, Vice President of Information Technology at ReVision Energy. Together, they discuss balancing IT initiatives and vendor relationships, the impact of AI on IT problem-solving, and engaging the new generation of IT. Thank you to Cato Networks, this episode's sponsor. With Cato, organizations securely and optimally connect...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, our hosts are joined by John Sotello, Chief Information Officer of Cloyes Gear and Products. Together, they discuss the changing role of CIOs, the intersection of technology and business, and the impact of cybersecurity and data on the automotive industry. Conversation Highlights: 00:00 Introducing John Sotello, CIO of Cloyes [05:15] The Role of a CIO in...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast , our hosts are joined by Grant Walsh, Head of Information Technology at Flow Control Group. Together, they discuss adapting to rapid technological changes and what makes a good leader. Thank you to Zscaler, this episode's sponsor. Zscaler, universally recognized as the leader in zero trust, employs the largest security cloud on the planet. Their cloud nat...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast , Keith Hawkey is joined by Geoff Moore, Chief Information Officer at Valmark Financial. Together, they discuss cybersecurity best practices, navigating the complex world of managed security services, and the evolving role of AI in threat detection. Conversation Highlights: 00:00 Introducing Geoff Moore, CIO at Valmark Financial [02:11] Making sense of cyb...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, Keith and Aaron are joined by Jeff Roberts, Founder & CEO at Innovation Vista. Drawing from his extensive experience as a CIO and consultant, Jeff discusses common pitfalls organizations encounter with VCIO services and shares strategies for leveraging their potential to drive greater efficiency and success. Conversation Highlights: 00:00 Introducing...

In this episode, Keith is joined by Glenn Hasteadt, IT Director at the County of Onslow, and Jess Levin, Technology Advisor at Opkalla. Glenn dives into the importance of building relationships and fostering trust with your IT team. Conversation Highlights: 00:00 Introducing our guest, Glenn Hasteadt [02:48] IT teams gaining recognition [03:27] Fostering relationships between departments [04:51] A...

In this episode of the IT Matters podcast, host Keith Hawkey delves into the complexities of change management with Meridith Fix, the former CIO of Lendlease. Meridith shares her extensive experience and unique perspectives on how organizations can successfully navigate technology changes from a human-centric approach. Conversation Highlights: [00:00] Introducing our guest, Meridith [03:34] Buildi...

In this episode, Keith is joined by Darrell Stinson, VP of IT & Security at Cohere Health, a software startup in the healthcare space. Darrell and Keith dive into a strategy for building and implementing security compliance plans for startups. Conversation Highlights: [00:39] Introducing our guest, Darrell Stinson [03:37] Darrell's journey with startups [05:51] Experimenting with open source t...

In this episode, Keith is joined by Chintan Patel, Chief Information Officer at National DCP, a supply chain management company serving the franchisees of Dunkin'. Chintan delves into the hurdles and opportunities she encounters in the logistics industry, highlighting the role of technology in overcoming these obstacles. Conversation Highlights: [00:41] Introducing our guest, Chintan Patel [02:16]...

In this episode, Keith and special guest Jesse are joined by Anthony Kent, VP of Information Technology at Four County EMC, an electric membership cooperative in North Carolina. Anthony shares insights into the technological advancements and challenges faced by electric cooperatives, particularly focusing on the integration of new technologies and AI into their operations. Conversation Highlights:...

William MacMillan serves as the Chief Product Officer at Red Cell Partners, an incubation firm building rapidly-scalable technology-led companies. After nearly two decades of military service, he transitioned into the role of Chief Information Security Officer at the CIA, safeguarding our nation against cyber threats. In this episode, we discuss the process of implementing Zero Trust Architecture...

Brennan Manion serves as a Senior Account Executive at Red Canary, a Managed Detection Response service providing 24/7/365 protection for their customers. Through Red Canary's innovative approach, which integrates AI and human expertise, organizations can effectively mitigate cyber threats while minimizing false positives, providing peace of mind in an ever-evolving threat landscape. In this episo...

Todd Capriotti serves as the Chief Information Officer of Wahiawa General Hospital, a community-owned, non-profit hospital serving Central Oahu and Oahu's North Shore. Hand-picked as the first-ever CIO for Wahiawa, Todd pioneered a comprehensive transformation strategy, reversing a 5+ year negative trend of delivery outages and service interruptions. In this episode, we discuss the unique challeng...

Kristopher Moniz serves as the National Data & Analytics Lead for Centric Consulting, an international management consulting firm with unmatched expertise in business transformation, AI strategy, cyber risk management, technology implementation and adoption. Kristopher's focus is helping his clients tackle their Data & Analytics challenges, specifically in the insurance industry, where he...

Matt Huffman serves as the Information Technology Manager for Reinders, Inc, one of the Midwest’s largest full-service distributors of products to the commercial green industry. Matt has both administrated cybersecurity audits during his tenure at Wipfli and navigated them on the customer side. Through the years of seeing both ends, he developed a simple methodology to successfully save time and p...

On this episode of the IT Matters Podcast, Keith Hawkey and Becca Black discuss the nuances of Technology Advisory. Becca reflects on her journey into the IT world, the significance of authentic relationships, and the importance of effective communication. Tune in for a candid discussion on building connections and achieving success in the IT realm. Conversation Highlights: [00:35] Introducing our...

Denver Hunter serves as the Director of Information Technology at PenServ Plan Services, a full-service, third-party administrator offering retirement plan recordkeeping and administration services. In addition to his role leading their IT team, he shares perspectives on technology trends, writing for the Forbes Technology Council. Today we discuss practical applications of AI to automate tasks fo...

James Anderson is a Senior News Editor for digital news outlet Channel Futures, which hosts the largest IT Partner Event in North America, Channel Partners. In this episode we dive into the beginnings of the Technology Services Distributer (TSD) Industry and how discontent resellers and customers paved the way for the modern Technology Advisor role. Conversation Highlights: [01:11] Introducing our...